Tie-protector.



' (A. D.CURRY.-

,CTOR.

Patented July 18, 1916.

APPLI NOV-29.1915- PROTE FILED TIE-PROTECTOR.

Application filed November 29, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER D. CURRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hawkinsville, in the county of Pulaski and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tie-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of railway ties and fasteners, and more specifically to tie protectors.

The object of my invention is to provide a sheet metal protector primarily designed for use upon the end portions of wooden railway ties. It is a matter of common knowledge that the life of a wooden railway tie is rather short, even when treated specially to withstand the elements. It is also a wellknown fact that rotting and disintegration of the ties in the great majority of cases starts at the ends of the ties. This is caused by the pounding of the loads carried by the ties causing the grain of the wood near the ends to separate, thereby permitting water to seep into the wood, which causes it to rot.

The object of my invention is two-fold; the protector tends to bind the wood together at the ends of the tie, thus preventing it from feathering along the grain as much as it otherwise would were my protector not used, and furthermore, it sheds water from the top of the tie at the ends thereof, and by means of outwardly extending flanges di- I rects the water away from the side and end of the tie and also prevents the suns rays from reaching the wood; moisture and sun being the chief destroying elements of wooden ties.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the detailed description and drawings forming a part of this specification.

Furthermore, this invention consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more particularly described in the following specification and embodied in the claim appended hereunto and forming a part of this application.

Referring now to the drawings, which are merely illustrative of my invention, Figure Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Serial No. 64,077.

1 is a perspective view of my tie protector applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my tie protector showing the interior face thereof.

Referring further to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the respective views, 1 designates the top face of my tie protector, adapted to seat upon the top of a tie near the end thereof, and formed with a rectangular end piece 2, the inner face of which is adapted to abut the end of a tie, and side plates 3 formed integral with said top face 1 and adapted to seat adjacent the sides of a tie. The end plate2 and side plates 3 are formed with an outwardly extending flange 4 integral with the lower edge thereof. A plurality of perforations 5 are provided through the top face 1 adapted to receive spikes 6 to secure the protector upon the end of a tie 7.

The utility, adaptability, and advantages of my improved form of tie protector being obvious, it is unnecessary to further enlarge upon the same herein.

Having now described and pointed out the new and useful features of my invention, I do not limit myself to the shape of certain parts where the shape is not essential, nor do I restrict myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but mean and intend to claim all equivalents and variations thereof, not departing in principle from my invention, and falling within the purview of the appended claim.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

ALEXANDER D. CURRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

